The Power of GPS Products – A Comprehensive Guide
Whether hailing a rideshare car, tracking your fitness activity, or using a GPS device to navigate construction vehicles, GPS technology is everywhere. But how did it become so integral to our modern lives?
GPS is a system of satellites that broadcast precise time signals. These time signals, combined with atomic clocks in the receivers, enable us to determine our exact position on Earth.
GPS Satellites
GPS technology has become so ubiquitous today that it’s hard to remember a time before it existed. However, the space-based navigation system that enables us to navigate our way around the world came from relatively humble beginnings. The Aerospace Corporation played a pivotal role in developing the technology that has become an integral part of our everyday lives.
The GPS constellation consists of 24 satellites in orbit, operated and maintained by the US Department of Defense (USDOD). The satellites broadcast radio signals picked up by land, sea, and air receivers. The signals tell users their exact position on Earth.
In addition to pinpointing location, GPS systems allow people to measure distance and velocity. This information can calculate driving speeds, meter readings, and more. GPS accuracy depends on several factors, including the number of satellites available, the ionosphere, atmospheric interference, etc.
Despite these limitations, GPS Garmin is one of the most accurate navigation technologies. It has a history of continuous improvement, and the next generation of GPS satellites will bring even more accuracy to the table. The upcoming satellites, Block III, will be more resistant to hostile jamming and broadcast new civil signals on the L2C frequency. They will also carry Distress Alerting Satellite System (DASS) repeaters, providing coverage for global search and rescue operations. The first Block III satellite, dubbed Vespucci after Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci, was launched in 2018.
GPS Antennas
Antennas act as the link between a GPS receiver device and the satellite signal. Depending on the design, they may enhance or amplify the movement to achieve better performance.
GPS antennas may also feature various connector types. The most common are U.FL (Universal Frequency Low-profile Connector) and UBNT (Ultra-Broadband NTi) adapters which are compatible with most GPS devices and can be used on cellular and Wi-Fi networks. They provide a secure connection without damaging the cable. They are typically used with GPS devices that require a small form factor and compact connectors, such as handheld GPS units.
Other connectors, such as the BNC (Bayonet Neill-Concelman) or TNC (Threaded Neill-Concelman), are a bit larger and can accommodate all types of coaxial cables. They are often found on professional surveys, precision receivers, and handheld GPS devices. They can handle higher frequencies and have threads that reduce leakage. They are compatible with GPS antennas that use a standard NMEA 0183 connection, such as Trimble’s Acutime 360 Smart Antenna.
Other GPS antennas, such as a patch or quadrifilar antennas, are built into the device and cannot be accessed directly. These internalized GPS antennas may need a low noise amplifier (LNA) to perform optimally. In some situations, especially in urban or built-up areas, a GPS receiver can benefit from a separate external GPS antenna. This can help overcome obstructions and multipath caused by signal reflection from buildings or other structures.
GPS Receiver
GPS receivers are found in virtually all smartphones and trackers and embedded in vehicles, airplanes, ships, trains, boats, and industrial applications. These devices constantly seek out the signals from the GPS satellites and figure out how far away they are from some of them. By using a method known as trilateration, they can figure out your location on the ground, often within a few yards.
GPS receiver technology is evolving, and there has been a growing call for performance certification. This issue has been exacerbated by the LightSquared controversy, which caused many GPS receivers to experience problems as it was implemented in the satellite system.
There are many different types of GPS and GNSS receivers from manufacturers.
Some GPS receivers have displays that display computed coordinates, visible satellites, data quality indices, and other pertinent information. They also have keypads for entering commands and external data like station numbers or antenna height. Some have a simplified mode that displays only the most commonly used controls and features. A GPS receiver can be mounted in a vehicle with the help of mounting brackets or can be secured to the dashboard. It must never be mounted where an airbag would deploy during a crash.
GPS Modules
Since its first launch in 1978, the GPS has provided positioning, navigation, and timing capabilities to millions of users with civil and military receivers. It is controlled, funded, and operated by the US government.
Signals transmitted by the GPS satellites contain information on where in the sky they are located (orbital data) and when they were sent (timestamp). The GPS receiver interprets these signals to determine your position (latitude and longitude) and time. The GPS module also enables your device to log location and speed (by selecting the distance from one location to another and the travel speed between them). It can be used to track vehicle movement or asset tracking.
A GPS module is a compact, integrated device that contains a GPS hardware core and a microprocessor. The GPS module typically outputs NMEA data over a serial transmit pin, and the microcontroller reads the NMEA data to perform GPS functions.
Many GPS modules have a super-capacitor or battery backup that saves the clock and last satellite data in volatile memory after power down. This helps decrease the TTFF on subsequent power-ups and allows for a faster initial GPS lock.